Multigenerational Households - Generations United (2024)

1 in 4

Americans

live in an multigenerational household

Multigenerational living is once again common in America. After being a norm for many generations, then declining as American families scattered, multigenerational households have grown over the past several decades.

The past ten years have seen a remarkably large leap in multigenerational living, from 7 percent of Americans found in our 2011 survey[1] to 26 percent of Americans in 2021. Most of us are likely either residing in a home with three or more generations, or we know someone who is.

Generations United 2021 report Family Matters: Multigenerational Living Is on the Rise and Here to Stay, finds that the number of Americans living in a multigenerational household with three or more generations has nearly quadrupled over the past decade, with a dramatic increase of 271 percent from 2011 to 2021.

Generations United estimates 66.7 million adults ages 18+ in the U.S. are living in a multigenerational household; that’s more than 1 in 4 Americans. Among those living in a multigenerational household, nearly 6 in 10 (57%) say they started or are continuing to live together because of the COVID-19 pandemic and more than 7 in 10 (72%) of those currently living in a multigenerational household plan to continue doing so long-term.

Multigenerational living is here to stay. Therefore, it’s time for America to embrace this phenomenon as commonplace in American life among all socio-economic levels. We must prepare for a multigenerational family future, examining our policies and approaches to home building and design, family support and care, healthcare, communication, business and service-provision, jobs, and more.

Generations United’s Key Recommendations include:

  • Increase multigenerational housing stock and affordability.
  • Promote multigenerational living as an environmentally friendly housing option.
  • Expand access to affordable, high-quality child and adult daycare including co-locating care by developing more intergenerational shared sites.
  • Expand paid family leave and flexible work environments.
  • Increase access to home- and community-based services and supports.
  • Support innovative intergenerational approaches to education at home.

For more information, including demographic data, multigenerational family stories, and a complete set of recommendations, read the full report.

Benefits of Multigenerational Households

The overwhelming majority of Americans living in a multigenerational home (98%) say their household functions successfully, citing various factors that contribute to the success, many of which fall into three categories further delineated in the report: family relationships and interactions, home design and supports and services.

The families also cite many benefits of living together, including:

  • Enhanced bonds or relationships among family members (79%)
  • Making it easier to provide for the care needs of one or more family members (79%)
  • Improved finances for at least one family member (76%)
  • Positive impacts on personal mental and/or physical health (76%)
  • Making it possible for at least one family member to continue school or enroll in job training (71%)

Types of Multigenerational Households

Multigenerational Households come in all shapes and sizes. A few common types include:

Three-generation: The most common multigenerational household arrangement consists of three generations – typically one or more working-age adults, one or more of their children (who may also be adults), and either aging parent(s) or grandchildren.

Grandfamilies: There are also growing numbers of grandfamilies – that is, households headed by an older individual or couple who live with grandchildren under age 18.Learn more about Grandfamilies.

Two adult generations: Most two-generation households consist of parent(s) and child(ren) under the ages of 18 to 22.However, this also includes parents moving in with adult children.

Four-generation: Once a rarity except in some lower-income ethnic communities, the four- or even five-generation household – parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, adult children, their children – is more commonplace.

[1] Please note that although both surveys were conducted by The Harris Poll, sample providers have changed from the 2011 “Family Matters: Multigenerational Living in a Volatile Economy” survey to the 2021 “Family Matters: Multigenerational Living Is on the Rise and Here to Stay”, survey.

Multigenerational Households - Generations United (2024)

FAQs

Multigenerational Households - Generations United? ›

Nearly half of Americans who have children under 18 living in their home (47%) report living in a multigenerational household. Multigenerational living is here to stay: More than 7 in 10 (72%) plan to continue living in a multigenerational household long-term.

What percentage of US households are multigenerational? ›

Multigenerational households consistently make up about 3.8% of all households in the US. Various trends have changed the landscape of American housing over the past 50 years: Family sizes have shrunk from an average of 3.7 people in 1966 to 3.1 people in 2022.

Why are multigenerational families on the rise in the United States? ›

Nearly a third of people surveyed by Pew said caregiving — child, elder, or otherwise — was the primary reason they lived in a multigenerational situation. One more reason multigenerational housing is on the rise: America is getting less white.

How many generations usually live together in homes? ›

A multigenerational home is a household made up of three or more generations living together under one roof. Typically, that is 2-3 related adult generations, as well as children. If you're a grandparent, that's you, your child, both your partners (if present), and your grandchildren.

What are the historical trends in children living in multigenerational households in the United States? ›

We find that in 2018, 10% of U.S. children lived in a multigenerational household, a return to levels last observed in 1950. The current increase in multigenerational households began in 1980, when only 5% of children lived in such a household.

What percentage of U.S. population lived in multigenerational households in 2016 30% 25% 20% 10%? ›

In 2016, a record 64 million people, or 20% of the U.S. population, lived with multiple generations under one roof, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis of census data. Multigenerational family living is growing among nearly all U.S. racial groups, Hispanics, most age groups and both men and women.

Who is least likely to live in a multigenerational household? ›

The percentage of Black and Hispanic Americans who live in multigenerational households. These two demographics are the most likely to live in homes with at least two adult generations; White Americans are the least likely.

What is the key disadvantage of multigenerational families? ›

Drawbacks of a multigenerational household

Living in close quarters with family members can sometimes lead to conflicts. Differences in opinions, lifestyles, lack of privacy and routines can cause tension and disagreements.

Is multigenerational housing making a comeback? ›

The research arm of the apartment listing and resident services company RentCafe went granular on Gen Z and found that 68 percent over the age of 18 still live with a parent or parents.

Is it better if three generations of a family live together? ›

“When three generations live together, family bonds are strengthened. When grandparents are involved in their lives, children have fewer behavioral and emotional problems. Grandparents can be critically important in the lives of children with divorced parents.

How rare are five generations in a family? ›

Our son being 4 months old, Him being 19, his dad being 45 his papa being 64 his great grandmother being 78 and his great great grandmother being 95. World record is seven. Four living generations seem to be relatively common. Five living generations is rare but still occurs.

How rare are six living generations? ›

It's rare to have six living generations. Guinness World Records say the current record for most living generations in a family is seven.

Which of the following is true of multigenerational households? ›

The correct answer is option d) Multigenerational families include grandparents in addition to both parents and children. A Multigenerational family, in its most basic form, consists of more than two generations of a family living together or in close proximity.

What are the problems with multigenerational families? ›

Stress on Caregivers -- There are also health and mental health concerns for the caregivers of children and older adults. The stress older adult caregivers feel caring for young children, accompanied by their own health difficulties can be overwhelming and can result in a variety of stress-related illnesses.

What percentage of Americans live in multigenerational homes? ›

From 1971 to 2021, the number of people living in multigenerational households quadrupled, while the number in other types of living situations is less than double what it was. The share of the U.S. population in multigenerational homes has more than doubled, from 7% in 1971 to 18% in 2021.

Where are multigenerational households most common? ›

There were 6.0 million U.S. multigenerational households in 2020, up from 5.1 million in 2010, according to 2020 Census data released recently. Multigenerational households were more prevalent throughout the South, Puerto Rico and some western states.

What percentage of US families are single person households? ›

Households: There were 37.9 million one-person households, 29% of all U.S. households in 2022. In 1960, single-person households represented only 13% of all households.

What is the most prevalent family structure in the United States? ›

The nuclear family has been considered the "traditional" family structure since the Soviet Union scare in the Cold War of the 1950s. The nuclear family consists of a mother, father, and the children.

What is the most common American family type? ›

Married Couple Households Made Up Most of Family Households. While one-person households increased from 25% in 1990 to 28% in 2020, family households remained the largest type of U.S. households and the majority were married-couple households, according to 2020 Census data released today.

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